CERTIFICATE
ApFM™ – Applied Financial Modeling
The program targets finance professionals, analysts, and students aiming to improve their financial skills.
Accounting Knowledge Requirement
Excel Skill Level
Purpose and Goals of Financial Modeling
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Training provides practical skills to build, analyze, and interpret complex financial models effectively.
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Improves participants’ ability to make informed financial decisions through accurate model analysis.
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Focuses on increasing accuracy in financial forecasting to support better business planning.
Detailed Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction & Foundation
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Role of financial models in decision-making
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Model design principles (inputs, calculations, outputs)
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Financial Concepts Refresher: Time Value of Money, NPV, IRR, WACC, Return, Risk, Cash Flow
Module 2: Excel & Modeling Skills
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Excel productivity & functions for finance (lookup, financial, logical, and other tools)
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Excel Statistical and Visual Tools
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Dynamic modeling: data tables, solver, and scenario manager
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Shortcuts, Formatting, data validation, and error checks
Module 3: Three-Statement Financial Model
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Forecasting revenues, OPEX, CapEx, working capital
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Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow forecast
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Linking statements & circular references
Module 4: Credit & Risk Analysis
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Credit ratio analysis & scoring models
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Loan structuring & debt coverage ratios
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Tax shield in credit analysis
Module 5: Advanced Valuation Models
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Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
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Dividend Discount Models (DDM)
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Adjusted Present Value (APV)
Module 7: Applied Decision Models
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Loan amortization & simulations
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Retirement planning & pension models
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Lease vs Buy decision
Module 8: Capital Budgeting & Corporate Finance
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Capital budgeting
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Scenario & sensitivity analysis
Module 9: Portfolio Optimization & Risk Management
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Portfolio theory & efficient frontier (Excel Solver)
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Beta, CAPM, cost of equity estimation
Module 10: VBA Automation for Financial Models (10 hours)
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Automating repetitive tasks in Excel
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Custom Functions (UDFs) for finance
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Automating loan schedules & retirement plans
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Building interactive dashboards and Interfaces with VBA